Sears Point: Segalsport/RBR race report

RUM BUM RACING FINISHES 13TH AT INFINEON

Hawthorne, California, August 25 -- Matt Plumb and Gene Sigal, co-drivers of the Rum Bum Racing Dinan BMW Riley finished 13thlast Saturdayat Infineon Raceway. It was a difficult race for the California team which fought some technical gremlins throughout the event. Rum Bum Racing remains 12th in the 2008 Grand-Am Rolex Series team point standings but gained precious points on the three teams ahead. Rum Bum Racing is now only one point from 11th and eight points from 10th. The entire team is looking forward to a good race next Sunday, 2900 miles away from California, at the New Jersey Motorsports Park where Rum Bum Racing will compete in the Supercar Life 250.

Rum Bum Racing was racing at home last Saturday at Infineon Raceway. The event started well for the team when Gene Sigal qualified 11th for the race, his best ever Daytona prototype performance of the season.

For reasons unknown, the team had difficulties during the three-day event of the Armed Forces 250 including during the race. Rum Bum Racing and Dinan BMW technicians scratched their heads all weekend but despite changing many of the electronic components, fuel pump, power steering ECU and other key items, the problem persisted and was never solved until after the race. A two-hour post race technical team meeting was conducted to analyze all data and address a short list of elements that may have been the cause of the Rum Bum's car problem. The team came to the conclusion that it may have been an alternator problem, a part that is supplied with the engine by the builder and that will be changed for the next race.

Rum Bum Racing with Gene Sigal driving ran as high as ninth in the first hour of the race and despite the problems, Matt Plumb drove a competitive second stint in the race and the #7 Rumbum.com / Big Vision Miami / Caramba Tequila Dinan BMW Riley finished 13th.

-credit: srbr